Nokia Here maps come to Apple iPhone, iPad

Nokia on Tuesday released Here, the rebranded version of its mapping application, on Apple iTunes for iPhone, iPad as well as iPod touch. Available for free on iTunes, the app is compatible with devices running on iOS 4.3 or later versions. 

The app comes with features like driving directions, live traffic view, satellite view, public transport line view and offline view, among others. Other notable features of the maps app include step-by-step voice navigation, navigation information through pedestrian routes, parks etc.
Maps in Nokia Here will include location and navigation data from approximately 200 countries. The Finnish manufacturer, whose mapping capabilities stem from its acquisition ofNavteq, will also leverage on crowdsourcing in some nations, where community maps will be created and updated by users, hinting at its push towards more user engagement with its services. 

Users can share places and locations with friends via SMS, email and social networks. They can also categorise places of interest into 'Collections' and access the same via Here.net. 

The availability of Nokia Here on iTunes is a big announcement after Apple removed Google Maps as its default navigation application. Apple had introduced its own maps when it launched iPhone 5, but this app was panned worldwide due to incorrect information and poor navigation capabilities. 

However, customer reviews for Nokia Here have been quite negative as well. 

"This app is slow to scroll in and has NO information! For example, there aren't even streets in Japan. It's basically a blank map for blind people. Try this out if you want to feel like your Apple Maps is Google's. Seriously, immediate delete!" read one user comment on iTunes. 

Apple CEO Tim Cook had earlier apologised to iOS users for the Maps fiasco and asked users to downloads mapping apps developed by rivals. His letter stated: "While we're improving Maps, you can try alternatives by downloading map apps from the App Store like Bing, MapQuest and Waze, or use Google or Nokia maps by going to their websites and creating an icon on your home screen to their web app." 

Nokia seems to have trumped Google in developing a mapping and navigation app for iOS, as the search giant is currently still in process of developing the same.